Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS)

An elderly patient with a productive cough experiences increased difficulty during physical activity. What diagnosis should the provider suspect?

1. COPD

2. Pulmonary embolism

3. CHF

4. Epiglottitis

The correct answer is: COPD

The suspicion of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in this scenario is well-founded, particularly due to the presentation of a productive cough along with increased difficulty during physical activity. COPD encompasses a group of lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, typically characterized by airflow limitation and respiratory symptoms that often worsen with exertion. In elderly patients, a productive cough can indicate chronic bronchitis, a form of COPD where mucus production and airway inflammation lead to frequent coughing and difficulty breathing, especially during activities that require exertion. The combination of these symptoms is indicative of the underlying pathophysiology of COPD, where airway obstruction leads to decreased exercise tolerance and challenges during physical activity. The other conditions, while serious, present differently. Pulmonary embolism typically leads to sudden onset dyspnea and may accompany chest pain, rather than a chronic productive cough. Congestive heart failure (CHF) may cause difficulty in breathing, but it usually presents with other signs such as edema and orthopnea, and the cough is often non-productive with fluid buildup rather than mucus. Epiglottitis, while associated with difficulty breathing, especially in the acute setting, would usually present with fever, sore throat, and other upper airway